The Morning Show

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Riley Helgeson, a trumpeter who handles publicity for Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis. To celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month, Jazz Central is presenting free concerts by Twin Cities big bands each Sunday in April. Venues for the concerts include the Hook and Ladder Theater and MCN6.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with pianist Renee Rosnes, who has been a major player on the New York Jazz Scene since 1985. She discusses her early career when she worked with iconic artists like Joe Henderson, J.J. Johnson, and Bobby Hutcherson. She also discusses her recent Brazilian album "Crossing Paths," and the new Blue Note album "Arboresque," by the all-female jazz ensemble Artemis, which R...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with banjoist Bela Fleck about his recent Grammy Award winning recording with the late Chick Corea and his new project, a collaboration with Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda and drummer Antonio Sanchez. They perform at the Dakota on Monday, March 24th and Tuesday, March 25.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Tony Balluff, clarinetist and founding member of the Southside Aces, about the Jazz Age Rumpus IV taking place at the Hook and Ladder Theater on Sunday, March 23rd from 3 - 7 PM. The music will focus on the New York sounds of Bix Beiderbecke, Ellington small groups, and singer Lee Wiley. The Southside Aces will perform at Sunday's event, as well as singer Maude Hi...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with singer Madeleine Peyroux about her 2024 album "Let's Walk." It focuses entirely on original music - songs that address issues of social justice, life, and love. Peyroux will perform in a double billing with blues and soul singer Bettye LaVette Thursday, March 20th and Friday, March 21 at the Parkway Theater.

Speaking about Bill Charlap's trio, the legendary songwriter Johnny Mandel said "It Don't Get No Better Than That." Bill Charlap's quiet and humble demeanor belies the fact he is one the reigning modern modern masters of jazz piano. In this conversation with Jazz88's Peter Solomon, he discusses his musical influences, his current trio, and his profound admiration for his spouse, pianist Renee Rosn...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Dayna Martinez, the Executive Director of the 2025 Twin Cities Jazz Festival to get a preview of the headlining acts.

You may know Erik Brandt from his role as host of Good Acoustics Saturdays from 1 - 3 PM on Jazz88 or as the leader of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet. Erik will be spotlighting the work of three local songwriters in the Good Acoustics Songwriter Showcase on March 21st at Metronome Brewery. I caught up with Erik tio learn more about that event and he previews the three featured artists in this segment...

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon speaks with Chicago-based singer Christy Bennett about her work researching and recording the music of Irene Higginbotham. Higginbotham (1918 – 1988) is best remembered as the co-composer of the ballad “Good Morning Heartache,” which was one of Billie Holiday’s signature tunes. Higginbotham wrote published more than fifty songs, including “This Will Make You Laugh,” “No Good...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with legendary blues and soul singer Bettye LaVette. She talks about her development as an artist and the way she had to learn how to use her voice to make a song her own. She is appearing at the Parkway Theater in a double billing with Medline Peyroux Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with trombonist Wycliffe Gordon about his musical influences and the diverse array of instruments that he plays, including soprano trumpet and didgeridoo. Gordon is appearing with the MMEA All State Jazz Band at the Dakota on Friday, February 14th.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with filmmaker John Scheinfeld about his 2023 documentary "What the Hell Happened to Blood Sweat and Tears?" The film tells the story of the pioneering jazz rock band - one of the most popular bands in the world in the late sixties and early seventies - and the disastrous impact of going on tour beind the Iron Curtain for the US State Department. Scheinfeld describes...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with guitarist and composer Scott Burton. Burton now lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin but formerly lived in Richmond, Virginia (where Peter and Scott crossed paths on occasion). An artist inspired by collaboration and pushing musical boundaries, Burton brings a newly formed trio called "Mantis" to Berlin on Monday, February 10th. Attached photo of Mantis members Sean Car...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon visited an adult jazz combo in their first rehearsal directed by bassist/educator Chris Bates at Jazz Central. The combo is one of eleven groups that got started in January through North Star Jazz Workshops.

The Star Tribune has launched a new podcast called "Ghost of a Chance" that tells the story of a black couple named Harry and Clementine Robinson who lived in South Minneapolis in the early twentieth century. The house that they occupied now belongs to Eric Roper, who happens to be the editor of the paper's regular history feature, "Curious Minnesota." Roper purchased the home in March of 2020 and...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with G. Philip Shoultz, III about the 44th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert taking place Sunday, January 19th at Ted Mann Concert Hall.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Sarah Fornace from the Chicago-based performance collective "Manual Cinema." Fornace is the director of "Leonardo: A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster," a show based on two stories by Mo Willems. It's running January 8th - March 9th at Children's Theatre.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Shawn Lewis, Community Relations Manager with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, about planned improvements to North Commons Park. At $45 million, the North Commons renovation represents the largest investment ever made in a neighborhood park in the 140-year history of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Harlem-based pianist Emmet Cohen about his recent album "Vibe Provider," and about "Live from Emmet's Place" - the live stream series he started that helped him navigate the pandemic. Cohen plays the Dakota on November 15th with bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Joe Farnsworth.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with organist Pat Bianchi about his relationship to the Hammond B-3 organ and the influence of the late organist Joey DeFrancesco. Bianchi will perform at the Crooners Main Stage Thursday, November 14th with drummer Byron Landham and guitarist Paul Bollenback, who served as DeFrancesco's rhythm section for many years.

Scott Amendola is a bay-area drummer and composer who has had long associations with artists like Charlie Hunter and Nels Cline. He performs with a trio including clarinetist Ben Goldberg and bassist Todd Sickafoose at Jazz Central on Thursday, November 7th. The group just released an album called "Here to There" consisting of music inspired by the bridge sections, i.e. the transition sections, of...

Chris Botti is renowned trumpeter with lots of crossover appeal and a penchant for recording ballads. In this conversation with Jazz88's Peter Solomon, Botti discusses his musical inspirations, discusses studying with legendary post-bop trumpeter Woody Shaw, recalls his days touring with the temperamental drum legend and bandleader Buddy Rich, and speaks on the varying approaches he takes to live...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with choreographer and master dance instructor Ashe Smythe about the legacy of Katherine Dunham, the woman widely acknowledged as the "Queen Mother and Matriarch of African American Dance." Smythe is a guest artist and instructor in a two-week Katherine Dunham residency taking place at Lundstrum Performing Arts. Attached photo courtesy of Karen Nelson.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Richard Cortez. The New-York based singer is releasing his debut album "Mood Swings" this week. Cortez discusses how his long history of gay activism plays into his musical career. Remarkably, he only started singing jazz publicly four years ago. He made a name for himself by organizing jazz performances at some of the gay bars in New York where he worked as a go...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Jeff Coffin, a multi-instrumentalist/composer who is well-known for his role as saxophonist with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and the Dave Matthews Band. On "Only the Horizon," his 23rd album as a leader, he collaborates with a West African percussion group called the Yeli ensemble as well as guitarist Cory Wong, banjoist Bela Fleck, blues icon Keb Mo and others...